Tag Archives: pencil

Admittedly, I am not the most photogenic person in the world. Add to that my current battle with acne, and you’ll understand why I was anxious about the recent photo op that took place at our office for our new IDs. On the day of the shoot (what else am I supposed to call it?), I spent a little extra time on my make-up, working hard to conceal my pimples and scars.

Having managed to make myself look presentable for my mug shot—and with the evidence to prove it (scroll down please)—I thought I’d list a few of the things I did in preparation for having my picture taken.

Ace your base. Sounds like the name of that 90s band; I couldn’t resist, sorry 🙂 Making your base as flawless as possible is key to looking good in pictures. You’ll want to carefully conceal blemishes and any discoloration, taking care to blend your concealer well into your foundation so that no part of your face is abnormally paler than the others.

Take time to define. In order to NOT look washed out in pictures, there are certain features that you need to define with product. These are your eyebrows, lashlines (both top and bottom), and lips. I filled in bare spots in my brows with a grayish-brown pencil, lined my eyes with brown liner, and stained my lips with just a bit of pink lipstick. Of course, I also applied mascara, eyeshadow, and blush/bronzer (not that my contouring was obvious, thanks to my chubby cheeks).

Classic is basic. (Okay, this rhyming thing is getting harder to sustain.) The thing about pictures is that they’ll be around for a really long time. With this in mind, I think it’s better to stick to neutral tones and not opt for shades that are too dramatic or trendy. Case in point: I used shades of peaches and browns on my lids, and soft pink on my cheeks and lips. Keep in mind that this was for an official ID, so I couldn’t really do a smoky eye, now could I? Although I volunteered to do it for an officemate whose make-up I worked on, I’m not surprised she refused 🙂

One last thing, makeup pros discourage the use of foundation/concealer with SPF in it for pictures. It seems the SPF, combined with the camera flash, results in a face that is too white, too pale, too reminiscent of ghosties. Personally, I haven’t had this experience, but I just stick to SPF-less foundation for pictures to be on the safe side.

And now, are you ready for the unveiling? Here we go…

Apart from that pimple above my left eyebrow (which I’m officially claiming is a birthmark which I’ve had since…erm, birth), I think I did okay. Looking at it, you wouldn’t know that I have a bit of an acne situation at the moment.

I’ve heard that people with an oily skin type are lucky because the extra moisture in their skin slows down the aging process. (If this were a Facebook post, this is where I’d hit the “Like” button.) However, I can’t help but be frustrated when my carefully-applied make-up melts after only an hour or two; I have better things to do with my time than to reapply my “face” several times a day. And so, over the years, I’ve made it a habit to take note of and experiment with techniques and products that will help my make-up to last longer.

Here are some tips, tricks, and products that you can incorporate into your make-up routine:

Use a primer. Applied before foundation, this product is especially crucial for those with combination/oily skin, but those with drier skin types will also benefit from using this product. A pea-sized amount is usually enough to cover the entire face; you can also blend it down unto the neck area.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Mary Kay Oil Mattifier

Work foundation into the skin. Different methods of application—by hand, using a sponge, using a brush–are recommended by different make-up artists; experiment and stick to the method you prefer. The important thing is to blend well with gentle but firm strokes; make sure the product is not just sitting on the surface. Also, setting with powder helps. Blend the powder well, too, so your face doesn’t look cakey; you don’t want to look like an espasol.

Spend a bit more time on your eyes. You can opt to use an eyeshadow primer. But the key to getting your eyeshadows to last is to apply, blend, apply, and blend again. Layering is key. You’ll get more staying power if you apply a little product at a time and slowly build up intensity rather than applying tons of shadow all in one go. Also, matte finish shadows–as opposed to shimmery or frosty ones–generally stay longer on the lids.

Use waterproof foundation and eye products if you have them. These really make a difference in terms of longevity. Keep in mind though that waterproof make-up will usually require special removers. Oh and if you will only ever invest in one waterproof product, let it be mascara.

A make-up fixative is helpful, but not necessary. After you’ve finished applying your products, hold the fixative about 12 inches away from your face and spritz 3-4 times to cover your face and neck; wait awhile and then blot the excess lightly with a facial tissue. This should help your look stay in place even longer.

Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix

Retouching is key. During the course of the day (or night), lightly blot any areas that have gotten a tad shiny with oil absorbency sheets or one sheet of facial tissue. Dust powder lightly only on the areas that need it, since applying all over could make you look cakey. Assuming you applied your makeup well in the first place, the only other makeup product that you will need to reapply is lipstick/lip gloss.